Ride control unit



Sept. 15,1942. COTTRELL RIDE CONTROL UNIT Filed Jan. 24, 1941 INVENTOR. GolfineZZ Patented Sept. 15, 1942 RIDE CONTROL UNIT Robert B. Cottrell, Chicago, 11]., assignor to American Steel Foundries, Chicago, 11]., a corporation of New Jersey Application January 24, 1941-, Serial No. 375,137

19 Claims.

My invention relates to a form of control unit for a railway car truck comprising a group of coil springs and an associated friction absorbing device of novel form.

An object of my invention is to devise a relatively simple control means for association with coil springs, as commonly used on railway freight car trucks, which will be efficient in operation, easy to apply and inspect, and which will assure a satisfactory degree of control of the coil springs to prevent violent or synchronous oscillations thereof.

My invention comprehends a novel arrange ment wherein specific forms of top and bottom spring plates are utilized in order that my novel friction absorbing means may conveniently be associated therewith. I have so constructed my novel control unit that the degree of frictional absorption will be substantially constant for a given amount of travel under all conditions of operation.

More specifically my novel control unit comprises a plurality of coil springs with confining top and bottom spring plates, one of said spring plates being afforded a projecting member can ying a control bar, and the other of said plates being aflforded means for supporting housings within which may be confined friction shoes in a manner to be operated conveniently by said control bar.

My invention comprehends such an arrangement as "that described wherein the unit as a whole may be assembled and mounted in the usual manner in a railway car truck, normally in the bolster opening of the side frame where it affords the usual means of support for a load carrying member or bolster.

In the drawing Figure 1 is a top plan view of one embcdimen of my novel form of ride control unit.

Figure 2 is a front elevation of the device as illustrated in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a side elevation of the structure shown in Figures land 2.

Figure 4 is a front elevation of one of my novel forms of friction shoes, Figure 4A is a top plan view thereof, and Figure 43 a side elevation.

Describing the structure in detail, it will be noted that my novel control unit comprises a top spring plate 2, a bottom spring plate 4 with a plurality of coil springs diagrammatically indicated at 6, 6 confined therebetween. As illustrated, the inboard edge-of the top spring plate is formed with an arcuate downturned flange .8 which extends substantially across the width thereof, said flange conforming in general .to the curvature of the enclosed coil springs and affording positioning means therefor. Also, along the lateral edges of said plate V-shaped downturned flanges I0, l0 are'formed as additional spring positioning means, said flanges l0, l0 affording positioning means for adjacent coil springs near the forward edge of the device. The top springplate is formed with spaced downturned arcuate flanges l 2,. l2 affording positioning means for the outboard edges of the outer coils. Between the flanges 8 and Ill, and I0 andl2, are thus left slotted portionsindicated at l4, l4. Between the spaced flanges l2, l2 adjacent the outboard edge of the top plate is formed a projection it which aflord's support for the transverse control bar l8, said control bar being formed with a horizontal top plate 20 which may underlie the projection l6 and be welded thereto at their adjacent edges as at 22, 22. The control bar is reinforced by a vertical rib 24 on the inboard face thereof which may be integrally formed withthe top plate portion 20 and the main body of said control bar.

The bottom spring plate 4 is similar to the top spring plate in having at its inboard edge the inturned arcuate flange 26 with the curvature conforming to the enclosed coils, and is likewise.

ner similar to the top spring" plate. Each spring plate is formed with an inwardly directed, centrally located spring positioning member 29 which affords abutment as at 3|, 3| for the surrounding coil springs and likewise each plate has on the outer face thereof spaced studs 33, 33 which may serve to position said plates with remembers between which they may be confined.

The front portion of the bottom spring plate is projected in an outboard direction beyond the position of the outer-most'coils to form seats 32, 32 for the spaced oppositely facing friction housings 34, 34 which may be welded to said bottom plate along the front edge thereof as at 36, 36, along the lateral edges as at 38. 38, and intermediate said housings as at 40, 40. Each of said housings is a structure of rectangular form having a back wall 42 and lateral inboard and outboard friction walls 44 and 46 (Figure 3) forming with top and bottom walls 48 and 50 box-like structures presenting oppositely facing cavities or housingswithin which may conveniently be confined spaced identical friction shoes 52, 52, each having the form shown in detail in Figures 4, 4A, and 4B.

Each housing 34 is formed on the inboard face thereof with an inwardly directed flange or rib 54 extending from the base thereof upwardly to merge with the inboard wall of said housing as at 56 (Figure 3), the lower portion of said flange being inturned as at 58 to form an additional guiding abutment as at 60 (Figure 1) for the bottom portion of the adjacent coil spring. The

base of each rib 54' may be welded to the bottom spring plate as at 62.

Each friction shoes isa rectangular structure comprising the base plate 64, the back surface of which may be formed as a friction face 65, said base plate having a. centrally formed lug 6,6

serving as positioning means for the adjacentv rubber spring. At diametrically opposite portions of the respective ends of each shoe are formed lugs 68, 68 extending approximately halfway across the width of the shoe so that when two shoes are placed opposite each other the lugs 68, 68 of respective shoes may be alternately positioned and so prevent relative movement of said shoes. Said lugs thus act partly as posi tioning means and also function to confine the rubber pads or springs 10 which may be confined between each shoe and the adjacent end of the control bar l8 which extends therebetween when in assembled position.

With the parts in assembled relationship, the opposite ends of the control bar I8 extend within the spaced housings 34, 34 intermediate the' spaced lateral friction walls 44 and 46 of said housings. Each end of the control bar is formed on its opposite faces with aligned lugs 12, 12 which may serve as positioning means for the rubber pads or springs I0, 10, and thus each rubber pad I is compressed between one face ofthe control bar and the spaced friction shoe so that the rubber spring operates to urge the friction shoe against the friction surface on the inner face of the adjacent lateral wall of the housing 34. Friction is thus delevolped along the area indicated at 14, 14 on the faces of the side walls of each housing 34.

In assembly the top and bottom plates may be secured in position at opposite sides of the confined coil springs and temporarily secured in position by straps or bolts in the usual manner. Prior to assembly the control bar will have been secured to the top spring plate such as by welding as shown or it may be integrally formed therewith. Thereafter the rubber springs, with the confining shoes, may be placed in position on the respective ends of' the control bar and securely clamped at their adjacent edges so that the housings may be sleeved over the outer edges of the shoes and forced into final position and thereafter welded into fixed relationship with respect to the bottom spring plate. The unit is designed for assembly in the usual bolster opening of a railway freight car truck with the friction housings at the outboard edge thereof in order to afford accessibility and avoid interference with other parts of the car truck. As the device is placed in operative position by the supporting and supported frame members of a railway car, the coil springs will normally be compressed, and as deflection occurs the control bar will move the friction shoes alternately upwardly and downwardly by engagement as at 16, 16 (Figure 2) of the top and bottom edges of said control bar with the lugs 88, 68 on the friction shoes so that said control bar serves as an actuating mechanism for said friction shoes.

It will also be understood by those skilled in the art that my novel control unit will place great restraint upon any relative twisting or turning movement of said top and bottom spring plates with respect to each other, This restraint will be partly resilient as when' the rubber pads may simply be compressed by twisting movement or it may be resilient and-frictional if relative tipping action takes place between said plates.

It is to be understood that I do not wish to be limited by the exact embodiment of the device shown which is merely by way of illustration and not limitation as various and other forms of the device will, of course, be apparent to those skilled ,in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the claims.

I claim:

1. In a control unit, top and bottom spring plates, a plurality of coil springs confined therebetween, a control bar secured to said top plate, friction housings positioned on said bottom plate, friction means operable within each of said housings by said control bar, each of said friction means comprising spaced friction shoes engaging opposite faces of the adjacent housing, resilient means under compression between said control bar and each friction shoe, and alternately arranged lugs on said shoes affording positioning means therefor and preventing relative sliding movement with respect to each other.

2. In a control unit, top and bottom spring plates, a plurality of coil springs confined therebetween, a control bar secured to said top plate,

' friction housings positioned on said bottom plate,

friction means operable within each of said housings by said control bar, each of said friction means comprising spaced friction shoes engaging opposite faces of the adjacent housing, resilient means under compression between said control bar and each frictionshoe, and positioning means on said control bar and on said shoes for said resilient means.

3. In a spring group, top and bottom spring plates, a coil spring confined therebetween, spaced oppositely disposed friction housings mounted on one of said plates, oppositely disposed friction walls on each of said housings, a friction shoe in engagement with each of said walls, means on the other of said plates for actuation of said shoes, said actuating means comprising a control bar with opposite ends extending into said housings and in abutting relationship with all of said shoes, resilient means under compression between each end of said control bar and the adjacent shoe, and positioning means for said resilient means.

4. In a control unit, top and bottom spring plates, a plurality of coil springs confined therebetween, a control bar secured to said top plate, friction housings positioned on said bottom plate, friction means operable within each of said housings by said control bar, each of said friction means comprising spaced friction shoes engaging opposite faces of the adjacent housing, resilient means under compression between said control bar and each friction shoe, and alternately arranged lugs on said shoes affording positioning means therefor.

5. In a spring group, top and bottom spring plates, a coil spring confined therebetween, spaced oppositely disposed friction housings mounted on one of said plates, oppositely disposed friction aces-sea P onus on each or said housings, a friction shoe in .engagement with each of said. walls, means on the other of said plates for actuation of said shoes, said actuating means comprisinga control bar with opposite ends extending into said housings and in abutting relationship with all of said shoes, and resilient means under compression between each'end of said control bar and the ad- .Iacentshoe. K 6. In a spring and friction assembly, top and bottom spring plates, a coilsprlng confined therebetween, spaced housingsmounted on said bottom plate, a control bar mounted on said top plate withopp s te ends extending within said housings, friction meansin each of said housings operable by the adjacent end of said control bar,

each friction means comprising spaced shoes in frictional engagement with opposite faces of the djacent housing, and resilient means under com Dression between each shoe and the adjacent bar end.

mounted on one of said plates, oppositely disposed friction walls on each of said housings, a friction shoe in engagement with each of said walls, and means on the other of said plates for actuation of said shoes, said actuating means comprising a control bar with opposite ends extending into said housings and in abutting relationship with all of said shoes.

8. In a control unit, top and bottom spring plates, a pluralityof coil springsconfined therebetween, a control bar secured to said top plate,

friction housings positioned on said bottom plate, friction means operable within each of said housings by said control bar, each of 'said friction means-comprising spaced friction shoes engag ing opposite faces of the adjacent housing, and

12. Ina composite spring roup. p and bottom spring plates, a coil spring confined there.-

' between, said top spring plate having at one end each end of said control bar,

v 7. In a spring group, top and bottom spring plates, a ,coil spring confined therebetween, spaced oppositely disposed friction housings and. friction means operable within each of said housings y said control bar, each of said friction means comprising spaced friction shoes'engaging opposite faces of the adjacent housing.

14. In a spring and friction assembly, top and bottom spring plates, a coil spring confinedtherebetween, spaced housings mounted on said bottom plate, a control bar mounted on said top plate with opposite ends extending within said housings, friction means in each of said housings operable by the-adjacent end of said control bar. --15. A compomte spring group comprising 'spaoed' plates,ia coil spring confined therebetween, .a control bar mounted on one of said 1 plates, spaced friction housings mounted on the other ofsaidplates and having oppositelydisposed frictionwalls, and friction shoes operable by said control her in engagement with said friction walls.

resilient means under compression between said control bar and each friction shoe.

9. In a spring and friction assembly, top and bottom spring plates, a coil spring confined therebetween, spaced housings mounted on said bottom plate, a control bar mounted on said top plate with opposite ends extending within said housings, and friction means mounted on said control her for actuation thereof and engagement with spaced walls of said housings.

10. A composite spring group comprising top and bottom spring plates, a coil spring confined therebetween, friction housings mounted on one of"said plates, friction shoes therewithin, and means mounted on the other of said piatesfor actuation of said shoes, said means comprising a control her having its opposite ends extending within said housings respectively with opposite edges of said bar inabutting relationship with spaced lugs on the adjacent shoes. 11. In a spring group, top and bottom spring plates, a coil spring confined therebetween,

spaced oppositely disposed friction housings mounted on one of said plates, oppositely disposed friction walls on each of said housings, a friction shoe in engagement with each of said walls, and means on the other of said plates for actuation of said shoes, said actuating means comprising a control her with opposite ends exetendingintosaidhousings.

, actuation of said. device.

ROBERT a. cdrranm,

16. In a spring group, spaced spring plates, an interposed spring, and. friction absorbing .means comprising a housing secured to one of said plates and having oppositely spaced friction surfaces therein, friction shoes in engagement with respective surfaces, an actuating member connected to the other plate and extending between said shoes, means on each shoe abutting the top and bottom shoe.

17. In a ride control group, spaced spring plates, an interposed spring, spaced oppositely facing housings on one of said plates, friction means therein, and a member connected to the other plate and extending between and into said housings for actuation of said friction means.

18'. In a ride control group, spaced spring plates, an interposed spring, spaced housings on one of said plates, each housing comprising 011- posltely spaced friction surfaces, friction shoes in engagement therewith a resilient member engaged with each shoe, and an actuating membeflsupporte'd from the other plate extending between and into said housings and clamped at each end between the associated resilient members.

19.'In a ride control group, spaced spring plates, an interposed spring, a friction housing supported at one end from one of said plates and comprising an opening in one side thereof, a friction device in said housing, and means on the other plate extending top and bottom springsprings confined thereedges of said member, and resilient means between said member and each intosaid opening for 

